so now it's over, the funeral. everything went smoothly - people were early, so that even though the traffic was bad things happened on time. the microphone didn't work - that was the one hitch - but that was put right quickly. hymns were sung and father j gave what my dad called a "very unifying homily." a sort of white shroud on the casket, on top of which a bible, and flowers, and incense being swung. at the end the church bells were rung, and the rain came down but the buses chartered were waiting, there were enough seats for people, others had their own transport - and smooth traffic to mount vernon - i have never been to mount vernon - not in my adult life anyway - and i confess that i always feel uneasy at that stage of the proceedings - but the image in my mind then was of flowers being placed on the casket, each person putting one down, uncle being blanketed in flowers - and the roller tracks taking the coffin away as people watched and then the door shutting - silent and final.